DISSEMINATED RHIZOPUS INFECTION IN A PREMATURE-INFANT

A 16-day-old premature male infant developed rapidly expanding necroti c facial plaques. Histology and cultures of tissue biopsy specimens re vealed infection with Rhizopus arrhizius. The patient was treated aggr essively with surgical debridement, amphotericin B, and rifampin, but had a progressive spread of the cutaneous infection and a fatal clinic al course. He had gastrointestinal and pulmonary involvement on autops y. Zygomycoses are rapidly progressive infections which generally affe ct immunocompromised hosts. Premature infants should be included as in dividuals at risk for disseminated zygomycotic disease.